Kazakh Protesters Detained At Rally For Sacked KNB Chief

December 08, 2009 19:12 GMT

Amangeldy Shabdarbaev (left) and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev

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Kazakh Protesters Detained At Rally For Sacked KNB Chief

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ASTANA -- Five people were detained today outside President Nursultan Nazarbaev's home in the capital, Astana, while protesting the sacking of the chairman of the Kazakh National Security Committee (KNB), RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Police arrived at the protest about 10 minutes after it began and detained the demonstrators.

The protesters held signs in support of former KNB chief Amangeldy Shabdarbaev and calling on Nazarbaev to fight corruption.

Nazarbaev fired Shabdarbaev from his post on December 7 and appointed him as a presidential advisor.

Nazarbaev's decision came after a series of reports in the media about the KNB clashing with other law-enforcement bodies.

Shabdarbaev, 59, is a longtime government official known for his loyalty to Nazarbaev.

He also served as a bodyguard for former Soviet Kazakhstan leader Dinmukhamed Kunaev, who was removed in 1986.